Veterans Affairs

Please contact the First Selectman's office for information and referrals at 860-928-0208 x336.

Soldiers Sailors and Marines Fund Representative, Tom Pandolfi has office hours in the Putnam Town Hall (126 Church Street, Putnam) every Friday from 9am - 11am and on Thursdays at the Killingly Community Center (185 Broad Street, Danielson, 2nd floor) from 1pm - 3pm. Messages for Tom can be left at 860-963-6800 x160 or on his email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. CLICK HERE to read an interesting article about Tom, who is an exemplary Woodstock citizen!

Connecticut Military Community Coalition Meeting Schedule: Meetings are scheduled for the 3rd Wednesday of every month from 11am - 12:30pm at the the Armed Forces Reserve Center, Smith Street, Middletown, CT 06457. Click here for the 2018 Meeting Schedule.

Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse

The Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse is located at the Killingly Community Center, 185 Broad Street, Danielson. Enter through the rear entrance, 2nd floor, EVERY TUESDAY morning at 9am. The group also meets on the first Tuesday every month at St. John's Lutheran Church, 190 Wauregan Road, Danielson (1/4 mile past Big Y) at 7pm. Please contact Tom Pandolfi at 860-209-5923 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions or to join this wonderful group of volunteers.

Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse is collecting old cell phones and their chargers which are provided to Veterans and others in homeless shelters. Please drop them off at the coffeehouse or any Veteran member.

We are pleased to share the following upcoming programs for the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse:

Friends of the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse..........we will no longer be sending out emails regarding the Coffeehouse. We have our Facebook page, DANIELSON VETERANS COFFEEHOUSE and our web site, www.dvcoffeehouse.com to communicate all news, speakers and events and happenings. Please visit one or both and sign up for and "Like" our page for the latest updates. Thank you for your support, The Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse

The Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse is looking for guest speakers on any topics every Tuesday morning from 9:00 am till it ends. Please email Tom Pandolfi at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If the KCC (Killingly Community Center) is closed, the Coffeehouse will not be open. This usually follows announcements that the Killingly Town Hall is closed.

The KCC does not automatically close if the Killingly schools are closed. Please listen to WINY Radio for announcements when there are school closings, municipal office closings, and delayed openings.

If there is to be a late opening, there will be an attempt to get WINY Radio to make an announcement regarding the Danielson Veteran's Coffeehouse. To be certain you get the correct info, please listen to WINY Radio or follow the postings on TV.

Veterans Services

VA Claims Process: Below is some advice from other vets that have been successful navigating the VA claims process.

The first step for a vet wanting to win a VA claim is to find a VSO (Veteran Service Officer). These folks are experts that do not work for the VA. They are veteran's advocates that work for the VFW, DAV, American Legion, etc. They can often be found in VA hospitals or county offices. They will ask for a copy of you DD-214.

The second step is to file a claim for a presumptive disease or a non-contestable issue like tinnitus. If the claim is not going to be automatically granted (presumptive or non-contestable), you need to have a condition that occurred in service and be able to prove it - such as gunshot wound residuals or PTSD; in short, an official diagnosis and a nexus.

A nexus or service connection is imperative. This might be a doctor's statement that states that your condition more likely than not was the result of your service. Perhaps the best advice is to immediately take any correspondence that you get from the VA directly to your VSO. Trying to respond to the VA yourself can be very discouraging. The VSO knows how to deal with VA correspondence.

After you contact a Veteran Service Officer (VSO), you can ask your Member of Congress or Senator to place a congressional flash on the claim to expedite the claim if you:

Can prove financial hardship (late bills)

Impending homelessness (notice to quit or late mortgage notice)

Claimant is over 88 years old

Former POW

Hospice/end of life care letter from doctor

The congressional flash and assistance from Congressman Courtney's office will ensure it is completed as fast as possible. Please call Congressman Courtney's office at 860-886-0139 and speak with his Vet Rep to expedite a claim at the VA.

VA Pensions: The non-service connected pension is for very vulnerable veterans that live at the poverty line. Ask a VSO for assistance with this application too.

The State of CT has two outstanding VSOs in the Norwich Office and you can reach them for consultation or make an appointment at 860-887-9162.

Online Tutoring: The U. S. Department of Defense provides online tutoring from Tutor.com at no cost to DoD service members. Eligible students can connect to a live tutor online at any time for one-to-one help with homework, test prep, proofreading and more in 40+ subjects. Click here to learn more.

Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued another warning - The Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have issued another warning to veterans about the latest scam against veterans. Scammers have come up with another manipulative strategy to rip-off veterans. According to VA executives, the scam seems to working on all cylinders, and with great success in getting veterans to hand over money. Veterans have been contacting their local VA’s in droves so far this month complaining about being ripped off by VA employees. In contacting veterans, the scammers are posing as VA representatives and offering VA loans to veterans. The catch, the veteran must pay up front fees to cover administrative costs of processing the “VA Loan.” Of course, there is no VA Loan, and veterans find themselves out of fees ranging from $75 to $675. It appears the scammers will get as much money from the veteran as the veteran will give.

New England Adventures - Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more details or to sign up for an event.

Caregivers' Day - Reconnect with your Mind, Body, Spirit and Energy with Deborah Stegmaier, Founder of Well-Being for Warriors, and Albert Guillion, LFT on Saturday, April 7 from 9:45am - 4pm at the Veterans Basecamp, 108 England Road, Chaplin, CT.

ANNUAL WELCOME HOME VIETNAM VETERANS DAY CEREMONY - THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018 1:00 P.M. STATE CAPITOL North Lobby. RSVP to Tammy Marzik at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 860-616-3603.